Donald Trump’s foreign policy nominees launched a Reassurance Offensive last week, promising Congress — and the rest of us — that the next president won’t be as scary as he sounds. And not on a handful of minor issues; the nominees walked away from the president-elect on some of his most alarming foreign policy positions. And Trump’s campaign positions aren’t always a reliable index to his thinking; he’s changed course on several issues already. In effect, Trump’s nominees are behaving as if the president’s views on foreign policy are still unformed and up for grabs — as if an appointment to Trump’s cabinet is an invitation to join a battle for his ear. Still, it’s good to know that when Trump makes big foreign policy decisions, he will have at least a few cautious advisors in the room.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 15, 2017 12:02 UTC